Apparatus for packaging strand

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for packaging strand as a wound package on a rotary collector including a movably mounted strand guide at the circumferential surface of the package; means for controllably moving the guide to keep it at the circumferential surface of the package during its formation, such means including a switch; means for sensing the size of the package as it increases in diameter and means responsive to the sensed size of the package effective to actuate the switch in selected proximity thereto.

United States Patent 11 1 Sears et al.

1 1 APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING STRAND [75] Inventors: James H. Sears, Anderson; Bernard I H. Jones, Pendleton, both of SC.

[73] Assignee: Owens-Corning Fiberglass Corporation, Toledo, Ohio 22 Filed! May 15, 1972 21 Appl.No.: 253,351

[52] US. Cl 242/43, 242/18 R, 242/18 G, 335/153, 335/207 [51] Int. Cl B65ll 54/08, B6511 54/28 [58] Field of Search 242/43, 18 G, 18 R, 36, 242/37 R; 335/153, 207

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,367,587 2/1968 Klink et al. 242/43 X 3,205,323 9/1965 Deshautreaux, Jr.. 335/207 3,371,877 3/1968 Klink eta]. 242/43 X 3,547,361 12/1970 Klink 242/18 G Apr. 2, 1974 3,129,680 4/1964 Doerner 335/207 x 3,161,742 12/1964 Bagno 335/207 x 3,198,902 8/1965 Deshautreaux Jr. 335/207 3,370,800 2/1968 Haberkern.....-. 242/36 3,561,689 2 1971 Morgan 242/37 Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Staelin & Overman, Ronald C. Hudgens [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for packaging strand as a wound package on a rotary collector including a movably mounted strand guide at the circumferential surface of the package; means for controllably moving the guide to keep it at the circumferential surface of the package during its formation, such means including a switch; means for sensing the size of the package as it increases in diameter and means responsive to the sensed size of the package effective to actuate the switch in selected proximity thereto.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED APR 2 I974 -SHEEI1UF3 PATENTED APR 2 I9 SHEET 2 BF 3 1 APPARATUS F OR PACKAGING STRAND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION lecting linear element lengthwise of the package by a 1 guide to distribute the element on the package during collection.

Recent developments in textile winders forming cylindrically shaped packages control the position of the traverse guide during package formation to continuously keep the guide at the circumferential surface of the package. But these winders tend to build packages having wound layers of nonuniform densities. And also these winders have mechanical traverse guide positioning arrangements that effect nonuniformities in packages wound by them. The irregularties are aggravated in wet environments such as found in glass filament forming operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is improved apparatus for packaging linear elements.

Another object of the invention is improved apparatus for guiding strand onto a collecting package where the location of a strand traverse guide close to the package is controlled during package formation'to continuously maintain the guide at the circumferential surface of the package.

These and other objects are attained by apparatus for packaging strand on a collector including a movable strand guide at the circumferential surface of the package and means for controllably moving the guide to keep the guide at the region of strand entry onto the .package during package formation, such means including a switch. The apparatus further includes means for sensing the size of the enlarging package and means responsive to the sensed size of the package effective to actuate the switch when in selected proximity thereto.

These and other objects will become apparent as the invention is hereinafter described in more detail with reference made to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of apparatus according to the principles of the invention collecting glass strand as a wound package in a glass filament forming operation.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front elevation view of the package size sensor and strand guide carried by guide DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The method and apparatus of the invention are particularly useful in processes for forming filaments of heat-softened mineral material such as glass where apparatus combines individual glass filaments in the process to form a glass strand that is wound into a package.

But the method and apparatus is useful in other proc- O esses that package other types of filament bundles,

such as yarn, cord, roving, etc., made from glass or other filament forming materials such as nylon and polyesters. Hence, disclosure of packaging glass strand in a glass filament forming operation is only an example to explain the operation of the invention. Therefore, the term strand as used in the specification and claims includes any bundle of filaments, including continuous or discontinuous synthetic filament bundles with or without twist, in-addition-to bundles of natural filaments.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a process of forming continuous glass filaments from heat-softened glass. Apparatus combines the glass filaments into a bundle or strand and collects the strand as a wound package. As illustrated, a container 10 holds a supply of molten glass. The container 10 may connect to a forehearth that supplies molten glass from a furnace or may connect to another means for supplying glass, such as marbles that are reduced to a heat-softened condition in a melter as sociated with the container 10. Terminals 12 are at the end of the container 10. The terminals 12 connect to a source of electrical energy to supply heat by conventional resistance heating to glass held in the container 10 to maintain the molten glass at proper fiber forming temperatures and viscosities.

The container 10 has a bottom wall 14 including orifices or passageways for delivering streams 16 of molten glass from the container 10. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the openings in the bottom 14 comprise rows of spaced apart depending orificed projections or tubular members 18.

The molten streams 16 are attenuated into individual continuous glass filaments 20 and are combined into a filament bundle or strand 22 by a gathering shoe 24 located below the container 10. The strand 22 turns on a shoe 26.

Normally apparatus supplies both water and a liquid sizing or other protective coating material to the filaments 20. As shown, a nozzle 30 adjacent to the bottom wall 14 of the feeder l0 directs water spray onto the continuous glass filaments 20 before the shoe 24 combines them into the glass strand 22.

A sizing applicator 34 movably held within a housing 36 just above the gathering shoe 24 applies a liquid sizing or other coating material to the swiftly traveling continuous glass filaments 20. The applicator 36 may be any suitable type of applicator known to the art; however, the applicator 34 is shown as an endless belt moved through liquid held in the housing 36. As the continuous glass filaments 20 speed in touching relationship across the surface of the moving endless belt applicator 34, some of the liquid on the surface transfers to them.

A winder 40 collects the strand 22 as a wound pack age 42 on a driven rotable collet or mandrel 44. The package 42 forms on a collector such as a tube 46 telescoped onto the collet 44.

Advancement of the strand 22 downwardly to the package during collet rotation attenuates the glass streams 16 into the continuous glass filaments 20.

An electric motor 48 within the housing 50 of the winder 40 rotates the collet 44. Controls explained hereinafter vary the speed of themotor 48 to reduce the rotational speed of the collet 44 as the size of the package 42 increases during package build. The controls effect a substantially constant linear strand collection speed that attenuates glass filaments of uniform size during formation of the package 42.

Traversing apparatus 54 moves the advancing strand 22 back and forth axially of the collet 44 (package 42) to distribute the strand 22 on the package 42. In the embodiment shown the traversing apparatus 54 includes a hollow support or arm 56 with a tubular housing 58, traverse actuating means in the form of barrel cam 60 and a strand guide assembly 62.

The arm 56 is mounted for movement about the axis of a shaft 64 in the housing 50. The tubular housing 58 has its longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the collet 44.

The barrel cam 60 is rotably held within the housing 50 with its axis of rotation parallel to the axis of rotation of the collet 44.

The tubular housing 58 slidably carries the strand guide assembly 62. As one can more clearly see in FIGS. 3 and 4, the housing 58 includes a slot 66 along which moves the strand guide assembly 62. The slot 66 opens substantially the entire length of the housing 58 along the wall portion of the housing facing towards the collet 44. The traverse assembly 62'includes a slide block 70, cam follower 72, spring 74 and strand guide 76. The support 56 locates the assembly with the strand guide 76 lightly touching against the circumferential surface of the package 42. The guide 76 is reciprocated at a comparatively slow speed together with comparatively slow speed filament attenuation. The slower speeds substantially eliminate abrasion and other impairment of the strand 22 by the guide 76.

The slide block 70 includes a groove 78 accommodating the lengthwise edge portions 80 of the slot 66. The portions 80 are guide ways that fit into the grooves 78 in slide fit relationship.

The cam follower 72 connects the slide block 70 and the barrel cam 60. The follower 72 includes an arcuate portion 82 that fits into cam grooves 84 in the circumferential surface of the barrel cam 60 and a tenon 86 that pivotally fits into the slide block 70. The pivotal connection of the follower 72 with the slide blocks 70 allows swivel or pivotal movement of the follower 72 at theturn around or reversal regions of the cam grooves 84 at the ends of the cam 60.

The slide block 70 supports the spring 74, which is disposeddownwardly from the block 70. Mountings 88 are at the other end of the spring 74; the mountings 88 carry a mounting pin 90 that movably holds the strand guide 76 on the spring 74.

The strand guide 76 has a smooth flat guide surface 92 with a recess or slot 94 that accommodates the speeding strand 22. In operation, the strand guide 76 reciprocates axially of the package 42 with its guide surface 92 lightly pressed (by the spring 74) against the circumferential surface of the package 42.

Rotation of the barrel cam 60 reciprocates the strand guide assembly 62 (strand guide'76) along the slot 66.

The reciprocating speed of strand guide 76 is directly proportional to the angular speed of the barrel cam 60.

Referring to FIG. 2, a motor 96 and drive within the winder 40 rotates the cam and hence, reciprocates the strand guide 76. The motor 96, through a suitable transmission 98, rotates the horizontally disposed shaft 64. The shaft 64 extends through a hollow portion 100, which is a portion of the arm 56 extending into. the winder 40. The portion 100 is mounted in bearings (not shown) within the winder 40. On one end of the shaft 64 is a sprocket 102 within the upper portion of the hollow arm 56. The sprocket 102 connects by a belt 104 to a sprocket 106 on a shaft portion 108 of the barrel cam 60 within the lower portion of the arm 56. Hence, the motor 96 rotates the barrel cam 60 independently of the position of the arm 56.

In the embodiment shown the strand traversing assembly 54 on the tubular housing 58 senses the size of the enlarging package 42 during package formation. Hence, as the diameter of the package 42 increases, the circumferential surface of the package 42 moves the guide 76 away from the collet 44 against the resilient urging of the spring 74.

It is possible to use other means for sensing the size of the package 42 during package build. For example, one might use pneumatic means for sensing the size of the package 42 during package formation. Here a device might measure back pressure of an air stream impinging the growing circumferential surface of the package 42 as an indication of package size.

Traverse guide positioning apparatus controllably moves the support 56 during package formation to keep the strand guide 76 at the circumferential surface of the package 42 throughout package formation. Hence, the traverse guide positioning apparatus is responsive to the increasing size of the package 42 during package formation. The apparatus moves or positions the arm 56 to accommodate for the enlarging size of the package 42 while maintaining the strand guide 76 at substantially the same relative position adjacent the circumferential surface of the package 42 throughout package formation.

FIGS. 3 and 4 more clearly show the'traverse guide positioning apparatus to include a normally open, reed switch 110, a motor 112, atransmission mechanism 114 and a speed reducing mechanism 115. The switch 110 is in a circuit supplying electrical energy to the motor 112; the motor 1 12 (through the speed reducing mechanism 115) drives the transmission mechanism 114, which moves the support 56.

The traverse guide positioning apparatus includes means responsive to the sensed size of the package 42 effective to actuate the switch 110 in selected proximity to the switch 110. And in the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 such switch actuating means is a magnetic means in the form of spaced apart natural mag- I nets 116 and 118 disposed with opposing ends having A timer or time delay relay 120 (shown in FIG. 6) regulates the time the motor 112 is electrically energized upon actuation or closing the contacts of the reed switch 110 by the magnets 116 and 118. The relay 120 permits the motor 112 to move the guide .76 (arm 56) a slight distance away from the package in increments. An increment of movement takes place each time the magnets 116 and 118 actuate the switch 110 during package formation.

As shown, the switch 110 and magnet 116 are held in fixed location in a plastic housing 122 carried by a stationary longitudinal support member 124 carried by the tubular housing 58. The member 124 is made of a nonmagnetic material such as a resin-textile laminate commercially known as Micarta. The resin component of Micarta is phenolic resin, which bonds layers of tibrous material together. The fibrous components can be fine linen, coarse cotton duck, glass fabric, which can be chopped glass strand or woven cloth.

The tubular housing 58 carries the support 124 with its longitudinal dimension disposed horizontally. The major surfaces 126 and 128 of the member 124 are in a plane extending in a direction parallel to the major surfaces 130 and 132 of the spring 74. The housing 122 is secured on the major surface 126, which is facing away from the spring 74 and strand traverse guide 76. Hence, the reed switch 110 and magnet 118 are stationary. The housing 122 is shown in a preferred location at the mid-length of the member 124, which is also the mid-length of the reciprocating stroke for the strand guide 76.

The magnet 118 is on the spring 74 (major surface 130). Hence, during operation the magnet 118 reciprocates with the spring 74.

One can more clearly see the movement of the spring 74Yand-magnet 118 by the dashed lines shown in FIG. 4. As the diameter of the package 42 increases, the circumferential surface of the package pushes the strand guide 76 (and hence the spring 74) towards the reed switch 110. The contacts of the switch 110 feel the influence of the magnets I16 and 118 as the magnet 118 approaches the switch 110. In selected proximity magnetic power from the magnets 116 and 118 snap close the normally opened contacts of the switch 110. Hence, the influence of the magnetic force from the magnets 116-and 118 effect closure of the contacts of the switch 110 without physical contact. Therefore, the pressure exerted in the circumferential surface of the package 42 by the spring 74 (through the guide 76) is substantially constant throughout package build. A wound package of substantially uniform density results.

One can control the amount of displacement of the guide 76 needed to actuate the switch 110. Such displacement is indicated by the space denoted d in FIG. 4. The location of the magnets 116 and 118 can be changed to actuate the reed switch 110 from different proximity locations. Also, one can use magnets of different magnetic strengths to control the switch 110.

Further, it is possible to use other types of switches and switch actuating means. For example, one might use a light sensitive switching arrangement capable of being actuated by selected light intensity together with a light source responsive to the sensed size of a winding 6 package for actuating the light sensitive switching arrangement. Then too, one might use a high frequency energy beam or pneumatic arrangement to actuate a switch in close proximity thereto in response to enlargement of a winding package. Also, it is possible to use other types of magnetic members, e.g. electromagnetic devices, to actuate a switch like the reed switch 110.

It has been found that winding a package of single strand without radial pressure at the end regions of the package forms a package having larger diameter end regions, such as the end regions indicated by the dashed lines on the package 42 in FIG. 5. The strand portions at the end regions 140 tend to slough off the package 42 and hence are undesirable.

Radial pressure exerted against the package 42 at its end regions by the spring mounted strand guide 76 compacts the end regions 140 to form a cylindrically shaped package 42. The package 42 is more plainly seen in FIG. 5. With its compacted end regions, the cylindrical package 42 is a self-supporting package.

The winder 40 includes means for pivoting the arm 56 (strand guide 76) away from the completed package 42 to assist removal of the package 42 from the collet 44'and for pivoting the arm 56 to move the traverse guide 76 close to an empty collector 46 on the collet 44 at the beginning of package formation.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, pneumatic means for moving the support 56 is shown that includes a cylinder 150, a piston 152, and a piston rod 54. The piston rod connects with a member secured to an extending portion 162 of the support arm 56. Supply tubes 164 and 166 convey fluid, such as compressed air, from a source to the cylinder 150. Fluid under pressure supplied to the cylinder 150 through the supply tubes 164 and 166 actuates the piston 152 and piston rod 154 to effect movement of the support 56 either towards or away from the collet 44.

The winder 40 also provides means for releasing the planetary ring of the speed reducing mechanism 115. In the embodiment illustrated, a cylinder and piston rod assembly 170 actuate a clutch means (not shown) for engagement and disengagement with the planetary speed reducing mechanism between the motor 112 and the support 56 to enable the fluid under pressure introduced into the cylinder 150 to move the support 56 independently of the drive motor 112 and speed reducing mechanism 115.

FIG. 5 schematically shows the circuits and programmer for the winder 40. A programmer 172 controls the speed of the collet drive motor 48, the speed of the traverse drive motor 96 and electrical energy to the traverse arm actuating motor 112. The programmer 172 may be of a character disclosed and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,109,602. The programmer 172 gradually reduces the speed of the motor 48 as the package 42 increases in diameter; the programmer 172 gradually reduces the speed of the motor 96 to maintain the uniform pattern of strand orientation onto the package 42. The rate of progressive decrease in angular speed of the motor 48 is programmed to maintain a substantially constant linear strand speed. The linear strand speed attenuates continuous glass filaments of uniform diameter. The traverse motor 96 proportionately reduces in speed to facilitate formation of a cylindrically-shaped package 42.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for packaging strand comprising:

a rotatable collector upon which strand is collected as avwound package;

means for rotating the collector;

and away from the circumferential surface of the package;

a strand guide for engaging strand along its path to the package;

means mounting said strand guide on said support means for resilient contact of the strand guide with the circumferential surface of the package at the region of strand entry thereon during formation of the package;

means on said support means for reciprocating the strand guide mounting means axially of the collector;

said mounting means including an elongated spring mounted at one end with said means for reciprocating the mounting means, the strand guide being mounted at the free end of the spring, the elongated spring being disposed so that it is bent along its lengthwise dimension during movement of the guide away from the axis of the collector by the circumferential surface during package formation;

means for controllably moving the movable support means away from the axis of the collector during package formation, such means including an electric motor and a switch in'the circuit supplying electric energy to the motor, the switch being fixed at a location on the support means adjacent the path of reciprocation of the strand guide; and means to actuate the switch when in selected spaced apart relationship thereto including a magnetic member mounted on the elongated spring at its free end for movement with the strand guide and a stationary magnetic member on said support means each at opposite sides of the switch, movement of the movable magnetic member during reciprocation of the strand guide intermittently bringing the movable magnetic member into sufficiently close relationship with the stationary magnetic member to actuate the switch to energize the motor for positioning the movable support means, the intermittent energizing of the motor moving the .support means successively through small increment distances to maintain the strand guide in substantially the same relative position at the circumferential surface of the package throughout pack-- cated adjacent the path of reciprocation of the strand guide at a position substantially at the mid-length of the reciprocation stroke length.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the elongated spring is a thin uncoiled member. 

1. Apparatus for packaging strand comprising: a rotatable collector upon which strand is collected as a wound package; means for rotating the collector; a movably mounted support means movable toward and away from the circumferential surface of the package; a strand guide for engaging strand along its path to the package; means mounting said strand guide on said support means for resilient contact of the strand guide with the circumferential surface of the package at the region of strand entry thereon during formation of the package; means on said support means for reciprocating the strand guide mounting means axially of the collector; said mounting means including an elongated spring mounted at one end with said means for reciprocating the mounting means, the strand guide being mounted at the free end of the spring, the elongated spring being disposed so that it is bent along its lengthwise dimension during movement of the guide away from the axis of the collector by the circumferential surface during package formation; means for controllably moving the movable support means away from the axis of the collector during package formation, such means including an electric motor and a switch in the circuit supplying electric energy to the motor, the switch being fixed at a location on the support means adjacent the path of reciprocation of the strand guide; and means to actuate the switch when in selected spaced apart relationship thereto including a magnetic member mounted on the elongated spring at its free end for movement with the strand guide and a stationary magnetic member on said support means each at opposite sides of the switch, movement of the movable magnetic member during reciprocation of the strand guide intermittently bringing the movable magnetic member into sufficiently close relationship with the stationary magnetic member to actuate the switch to energize the motor for positioning the movable support means, the intermittent energizing of the motor moving the support means successively through small increment distances to maintain the strand guide in substantially the same relative position at the circumferential surface of the package throughout package formation.
 2. Apparatus of claim 1 in which the magnetic members are permanent magnets.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the switch is located adjacent the path of reciprocation of the strand guide at a position substantially at the mid-length of the reciprocation stroke length.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the elongated spring is a thin uncoiled member. 